Psst! Have you heard what’s cooking with kindergarten? Canyons District is excited to announce that we are offering free full-day kindergarten at each of our 28 elementary schools.

This programmatic shift and expansion is made possible with funding approved by the Utah Legislature.

Participation in the full-day kindergarten schedule is not required. Parents who would prefer a half-day schedule can arrange with their school to have their child do half-day instruction in a full-day kindergarten classroom.

“Our efforts to expand full-day kindergarten have always been about choice,” said CSD’s Instructional Supports Director Dr. Amber Roderick-Landward. “Demand for full-day kindergarten is growing, and we’re excited about what the expansion of full-day classes means for our students and families. We also know there are families who prefer the half-day option, and we’ll honor that choice.”

Families who have signed up to enroll next year in CSD’s popular, tuition-based Supplemental Kindergarten program will be refunded any fees paid by the end of March, 2023. Canyons has notified these families directly, inviting them to consider their enrollment options for the 2023-2024 school year.

“Because Supplemental Kindergarten was offered at a limited number of our schools, some families enrolled where spots were available. Now they can choose to enroll in their neighborhood school, or any of our schools that have space available,” Roderick-Landward said.

Families interested in enrolling in a school that is different from their neighborhood school will need to submit a School Choice permit application. Because Supplemental Kindergarten no longer exists, placement in the tuition-based program no longer guarantees that your permit will be approved.

The benefits of full-day kindergarten are numerous and well-documented by researchers.

“We like to say that if there’s such a thing as the Goldilocks zone of fun and learning, you’ll find it our kindergarten programs where the conditions are ‘just right’ to get children ready for their future,” Roderick-Landward said.

The extra instructional time makes it easier for students to master the early-learning skills that will lay the foundation for all future learning. The amount of instruction in English and math will nearly double, opening more opportunities for teachers to personalize their instruction to meet the needs of each child. There will also be more time for science, art, and intentional play activities, such as CSD’s “oral language block,” which is designed to build confidence and oral language skills at a time when young children’s brains are rapidly developing.

“Whether you’re looking for half-day or full-day kindergarten, you can take comfort knowing that our innovative, top-ranked programs are the right choice for your child,” Roderick-Landward said.

Contact your school of choice for information about kindergarten orientation dates, and see why Canyons is rated the No. 1 school district in Utah.